Parabon NanoLabs, Inc. (Parabon) was credited with redirecting the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office’s investigation of the 2009 brutal murder of then 19-year old Sierra Bouzigard in Moss Bluff, Louisiana, during a televised press conference on KPLC 7 News, held September 1, 2015. Sheriff Tony Mancuso informed the media that since the murder, investigators had focused on the Hispanic community based upon information of her whereabouts and who she was with just prior to her death. The Snapshot™ composite, produced from a DNA sample taken from the crime scene, depicts a white male with green or possibly blue eyes and brown or black hair.
“We are excited about this result,” Sheriff Mancuso told the media. “This totally redirects our whole investigation and will move this case in a new direction.”
In November of 2009, the 19-year old was found bludgeoned to death on the side of John Koonce Road in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. DNA found at the scene was run through CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, used by law enforcement to secure a match with a known suspect. Over 20 suspects within the Hispanic community were interviewed and had DNA samples tested. No matches were found, but investigators continued to focus on individuals and locations where she was last seen.
“This is a very exciting time for us in law enforcement,” Sheriff Mancuso continued, “It (Snapshot™) gives us a little more hope to solve crimes like this.”
Snapshot™ accurately predicts the physical appearance and ancestry of a DNA source. Unlike traditional DNA profiling, which treats DNA like a fingerprint for identity matching, Snapshot uses DNA as a genetic blueprint from which physical traits can be deciphered. Parabon recently announced a new suite of forensic capabilities that will provide investigators with age progression, accessorization and facial reconstruction to produce an accurate composite image of the source. Sheriff Mancuso told the media that investigators may use the new Snapshot™ age progression capability in the Bouzigard case if no immediate leads were generated from the initial Snapshot composite, which shows the subject at 25 years of age.
Those with information in the case are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 1 (337) 491-3605 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (337) 439-2222. To see the complete CSPS press conference visit KPLC 7 News.
